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Mar 30, 2016

Each year OPS is proud to sponsor music scholarships for pipers and drummers who have participated in OPS competitions throughout the year.

Only current OPS members are eligible to be candidates for the scholarships and must have competed in at least two of the OPS season’s competitions. Players in all grade levels of competition are eligible, including chanter and drum pad.

The scholarships awards are provided so that the recipients may attend the piping and drumming school of their choice. Tuition will be paid directly to the school of the winner’s choice. The scholarship recipient will be announced at the final OPS of the season on April 16, 2016.Download the Scholarship Application.

Mar 7, 2016

Come to OPS and listen to some wonderful music. You can grab a bite to eat and enjoy a good brew too! The show starts at 7:30 at The OddFellows Hall, 10282 SE Main St. Milwaukie OR, 97222.

Our featured band is Portland Metro Pipe Band.

Portland Metro Pipe Band

The Portland Metro Pipe Band, founded in 2006, consists of premier pipers and drummers from all over the Pacific Northwest; including players ranging from Corvallis, OR to Seattle, WA. The band wears the Muted Red Fraser tartan.

We spend the Fall and Winter preparing to start the new year with our Annual Burn's Night in January and continue through then end of Summer. While mainly a competitive band, we also perform parades, commencements, and events around Oregon.

Our Featured Performer is Joseph Stewart.

Joseph Stewart

Joseph started piping at the age of seven under the tutelage of Kevin Auld. Since then he has taken lessons from Jori Chisholm, Shaunna and David Hilder, and currently receives instruction from Murray Henderson. Joseph competes in the BCPA professional class and major solo piping accomplishments include winning the 2011 Nicol-Brown and George Sherriff Memorial Championships and placing third in both the 2014 and 2015 U.S. Silver Medal Piobaireachd competitions.

In addition to solo playing, Joseph has also been a member of the Keith Highlanders Pipe Band and the Grade 1 Dowco Triumph Street Pipe Band, with whom he competed at the World Pipe Band Championships in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.

Outside of piping, Joseph is currently in his junior year at Whitman College, studying biology and chemistry, and enjoys hiking, singing, backpacking, and kayaking.

Joseph would like to thank everyone who has helped him on his piping journey.

Our Local Heroes are piper Will Beattie and dancer Suvi Chisholm.

Will Beattie

Will Beattie began playing the Highland bagpipes and Highland dancing at the age of 8. While his dancing continued only for a couple of years, his piping career has continued for over 25.

Will was one of the founding members of the Sir James MacDonald Pipe Band (originally the Oregon Pipers Society Junior Pipe Band) and currently plays with the grade 2, Portland Metro Pipe Band. For the past two years, he has played for the Portland Highland Dance competitions and the 2015 Pacific NW Regional competition.

During the summer he can be found competing in the grade 1 solo piping competitions at the Highland games throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Will is also an OPS Board Member and Business Manager.

Bonnie MacKenzie, Suvi, Eila Chisholm

This month will feature a dance performance by OPS Board Member and bartender Suvi Chisholm.

Suvi is a certified instructor and dances at the Bonnie MacKenzie Dance Academy in Lake Oswego. A competitive dancer for over 25 years, Suvi has competed in the US, Canada and Scotland. She has competed at the World Highland Dance Championship four times, as well various Highland Games across Scotland. Most notably, competing twice at the Braemar Gathering, attended by Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family.

Suvi is excited to perform at OPS again and would like to thank her dance instructor Bonnie and parents Eila and Craig for all their support in her dancing career!